Bath massager

ABSTRACT

A portable, inexpensive, safe bath massager having a submerged member defining a channel open at both ends to the bath water, a first passage adapted to be connected to a water source at a pressure above the pressure of the bath water and terminating at the channel in an elliptically shaped aperture through which water flows into the channel to impart momentum and cause bath water to flow through the channel and out one end as a stream, and a second passage adapted to be communicated with the air and terminating at the channel in an aperture so that the water flowing past draws air into the channel and aerates the stream. The member is mounted preferably in a housing which can be attached removably to a bath surface for directing the stream to any desired body part. A pair of hoses connected together attach the member to the water source and communicate to the air respectively.

United States Patent [191 Hurst [451 Apr. 9, 1974 BATH MASSAGER RobertH. Hurst, 41 Alfred Drouse Rd., Barrington, RI. 02980 221 Filed: Jan. 9,1973 21 Appl. No.: 322,148

[76] Inventor:

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A portable, inexpensive, safe bath massager having asubmerged member defining a channel open at both ends to the bath water,a first passage adapted to be connected to a water source at a pressureabove the pressure of the bath water and terminating at the channel inan elliptically shaped aperture through which water flows into thechannel to impart momentum and cause bath water to flow through thechannel and out one end as a stream, and a second passage adapted to becommunicated with the air and terminating at the channel in an apertureso that the water flowing past draws air into the channel and aeratesthe stream. The member is mounted preferably in a housing which can beattached removably to a bath surface for directing the stream to anydesired body part. A pair of hoses connected together attach the memberto the water source and communicate to the air respectively.

23 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures E BAPR 91914 3,802,422

sum 1 or 3 All I IIII/Il/IIJ BATHMASSAGER BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIORART AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a portable,inexpensive and safe bath massager having no moving parts.

The therapeutic and relaxing value of aerated, moving water has longbeen recognized. Whirlpool baths have been used for many years fortreating and soothing injured muscles and tissues. Some such devices aredesigned solely for this purpose and no other. Other devices areintended to be used in conventional bath tubs for circulating andaerating the water. There are, however, a considerable number. ofdrawbacks to the use of these units which has limited their acceptancein the commercial marketplace.

One type of device which'is intended to be used with a conventionalbathtub .is a unit which is placed on the side of the tub with a portionextending down into the bath water. A motor outside the water furnishesthe mechanical energy'which circulates the water and also aerates it.One ofthe considerable disadvantages with this particular kind of unitis the considerable'expense necessitated by the use of anelectricalmotor and the other mechanical components required'to accomplishcirculation without either electrocuting or mangling the user. A furtherdisadvantage is that it is very difficult, if notimpossible, todirectthe circulating water to any particular area of the body. In manyinstances, the

user will desire, for example, to sooth an arm or leg muscle which isinjured or which has some condition requiringtreatment. The large typeunit which sits on the side of the tub cannot be satisfactorilyused forthat purpose. Another considerable disadvantage with this type of unitis the ever present danger and concern about electrocution. Whileexpensive safeguards can minimize this danger, the concern and worry isalways present. 1

-Another type of device which provides a stream of aerated air in abathtub uses the water pressure which is available for example at ashower head or the tub faucet. A tube is connected to the showerhead ortubfaucet and a secondtube is'concentrically fixed within the watercarryingtube fordrawing air into the water. A stream is thus createdwhich can be directed from below the surface of the bath'water onto anychosen body part. The patent Krohn U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,359 shows adevice ofthis kind.

This type of device, while an improvement in many ways over the unitdescribed above which sits on .the

side ofthe tub and extends down in the water, still has a number ofconsiderable drawbacks. One of the major problems with this unit isthatsince all of the water from the shower is used to create the stream ofwater, in a short time which is not sufficient for most desiredtherapeutic uses of the unit, the tub is filled to overflow and some ofthe water must either be let out and wasted or the massage terminated.Either course is un- The present invention relates to a safe,inexpensive portable bath massager which creates a stream of extremelyaerated water flow which can be easily directed toward any desiredportion of the body. The unit has no moving parts and is solely operatedby a water pressure so there canbe absolutely no danger of injury.Further, the unit can be easily'constructed from moldedplastic parts ata minimal expense in comparison to previous devices as described above.

Rather than relying solely on the water from a pressurized source, suchas'the shower connection or the bath connection, to supply the water forthe aerated stream, the pressurized water is used only for the purposeof imparting momentum to and causing flow of the actual bath waterthrough a channel which is open at both ends in a member adapted to besubmerged below the bath water surface. Downstream of the location ofinjection of the water-from the pressurized source, .an aperture andpassage communicate the channel to the air so that,.as the bath waterand injected water rush through the channel, air is drawn into andeffectively mixed with the stream to a hitherto unrealizable extent.

The extraordinary aeration which results with this particularly simpleand effective unit may produce therapeutic results which are in excessof those obtainable with conventional units such'as described above.

Whether this is true or not, the aerated stream is without questionsoothing and relaxing.

Further, the small portable head of the massager which contains themember defining this channel in a housing is-preferablyprovided withsuction cups or the like for removably attaching the housing to any bathsurface. Thus, the unit can be easily and quickly placed anywhere in thebathtub as desired to direct the stream of aerated waterflowing out oftheunit precisely onto any desired body part,'be it arm, leg, etc.

According to the embodiment of the invention described below, themassager head includes a flow generating and aerating member mountedinside a housing. The member defines a channel, open at bothends to thebath water with two passages opening onto that channel. One of thepassages is adapted for carrying water from a pressurized source andinjects that water intothe channel via an aperture at the angle, forexample of 22 k", to impartmomentum to the bath water and cause flowfrom one end of the channel to the other. The other passage,whichterminates in an aperture downstream from the site of injection ofthe pressurized water, is in communication with the air outside the tubso that, as the water rushes by the downstream aperture, air is drawninto and effectively mixed with the bath and injected water to createparticularly effec tive aeration.

Two co-pending applications to Souza Ser. No. 126,273 filedMar. 19, 1971and Hurst Ser. No. 95,319 filed Dec. 4, 1970, and now Pat. No. 3,712,065describe momentum transfer devices in which a stream of liquid or. gasis injectedinto a channel via an aperture which is elliptically shapedand flush with the walls of the chamber to impart momentum andeffect-mixing. As discussed in these two applications, the momentumimparted by this arrangement has been found to be particularly effectiveand it is believed that the use of a flush, elliptically shaped openingis at least one of the factors which results in that effectivemomentum'transfer. It has been established that with such an aperture apair of counter rotating vortices are created which result inparticularly effective mixing and momentum transfer of the injectedliquid or gas to the liquid or gas in the channel. Further such twinvortices are created by the bath massager of this application, and areat least in part be responsible for the extremely effective momentumtransfer which permits a small amount of pressurized water to create alarge stream volume taking many minutes to add sufficient volume ofwater to the tub to require draining or termination of the massage.

The head of the massager can be connected to any source but ispreferably connected to a diverter valve which is installed between theshower fitting and the shower head and which can be easily, and manuallyoperated to divert water from the shower head through the hose tooperate the massage head. An air hose is preferably attached to thishose, for example by a plastic clip, and extends upward out of the bathwater to supply air to the unit for aeration as described below.

Many other objects and purposes of the invention will become clear fromthe following detailed description of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of thenovel bath massager of this invention in use in a tube supplying astream of aerated water.

FIG. 2 shows a cut away side view of the head for the bath massager andthe attached hoses.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the head and attached hoses of the massagerof FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the bottom of the head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the massager of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a cut away view of one half of the member mounted insidethe housing of the bath massager of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to FIG. 1which shows a schematic view of the novel bath massager of thisinvention in operation. As discussed briefly above, a conventional bathtub 20, which may be of virtually any size or shape, is filled partiallywith bath water to a level sufficient for submerging bath massager head22 so that a stream of liquid can be directed onto any desired bodypart. Massager 22 can be hand held or preferably attached to any bathsurface below the water level by suction cups.

Head 22 is connected to a source of water at a pressure greater than thewater in the bath tub by a hose 28. Any source of water can be employedbut a shower fixture has been found particularly satisfactory. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, hose 28 directly connects to a conventionaldiverter valve 30 which is connected between the shower head and thepipe for normally supplying water to the shower head. Diverter valve 30can be very quickly installed in almost any conventional showerarrangement and once in place can be left there with the shower beingoperated while diverter valve 30 is one position and the massager beingemployed after diverter valve 30 has been manually shifted to a secondposition. Many such valves are well known in the art and no specificdiscussion of any one is believed necessary or appropriate. A secondhose 30 is attached to hose 28 as discussed above and extends out of thetub far enough so as to be in no danger of submerging. Tube 30 thussimply terminates in the air and communicates bath massager head 22 withthe air for aerating the water as discussed below.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, head 22 includes a housing 36 which ispreferably of molded plastic and formed as two parts which are fusedtogether after assembly as discussed below. Housing 36 includes on itsinner surface a plurality of locating portions for receiving studs on aninterior member 38 which performs the momentum transfer and aeratingfunctions. Referring to FIG. 1, housing 36 includes at the end adjacentwhere the aerated stream exists from housing 36, an upper locatingportion 40 and lower locating portion 42. Further locating portions arepreferably disposed behind locating portions 40 and 42 respectively. Atthe rear of the unit adjacent to the location where bath water is pulledinto head 22 locating parts 44 and 46 similarly receive studs of member38 for holding that member in place during operation.

Housing 36 as discussed above can be simply and easily attached to anybath surface below the surface of the water in the bath by means of apair of suction cups 50 and 52 which are force fitted into apertures inthe lower surface of housing 36 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. Aweight of cast iron, lead or the like 56 is also mounted within housing36 below member 38 for adding weight to the unit. Since preferablyhousing 36 as well as member 38 are both molded of conventional plastic,weight 36 aids in keeping the unit in place and in using the same.Weight 36 may be held in place by means of upwardly extending ribs 60 ofhousing 36.

As mentioned briefly above, and as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, a waterhose 60 and an air hose 62 are connected to member 38 for supply ofwater at a pressure and communicating the member to the airrespectively. Air hose 62 is preferably formed with a clip 64 forattaching hoses 60 and 62 together. This aids in keeping the hosesseparated and avoiding snarling of the same. Hose 62 terminates in anair opening 64 at any location far enough above the bath so as to be outof danger of receiving water in the event of an overflow or a full tub.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 which shows a side view of one half ofmember 38. Member 38 is preferably formed into halves with one of thehalves having 10- cating studs such as studs and 72 and the other halfhaving female members for receiving the studs. After molding, the twounits can then be fused together to produce an operative member which isthen placed in housing 36. Member 38 defines a channel 74 having aroughly circular cross section and which is Open at both ends to thebath water. Hose 60, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, connects to a threadedportion 76 which bounds a passage 78 leading from hose 60 to an aperture80 which is elliptically shaped and flush with the walls boundingchannel 74. Water at a pressure above that of the bath water flowsthrough hose 60 from diverter valve 30 and is injected into channel 74via aperture 80. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the angle betweenthe axis of channel 74 and the water injected from aperture 80 isroughly 22 and this angle has been found to be particularly effectivetransfering momentum. The water injected through aperture 80 thus causesbath water to be drawn into opening 86 of channel 74 and to flow throughchannel 74, exiting opening 88 and creating a stream of water which canbe directed to any desired body location.

Air hose 62 is connected to a second part of the member 38 which boundsa second interior passage 90 which likewise terminates at an aperture 92which is downstream from aperture 80 and which operates much like aventuri. Thus, as the water flows past aperture 92, air is drawn fromtube 62, down through passage 90 and pulled into the moving water,causing effective aeration of the same as the turbulence created by theinjection through aperture 80 operates both to impart momentum and toeffect mixing.

The embodiment described above is particularly and uniquely designed foruse as a bath massager. The principle, however, finds the application inaeration of all other kinds of liquids, for example in sewage treatmentplants or the like. The device can be effectively used for mixing gasesother than air in liquids. It can be used for dispensing liquids such asperfume, liquid soaps, etc. The rate of dispensing can be controlled bycontrolling the flow rate through the device. Accordingly,

since many changes in modification of the above described embodiment canbe made without departing from the scope of the invention that scope isintended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. Apparatus for use in a bath to provide a streamof aerated water comprising:

aerating means adapted for placement in the bath below the water levelincluding a member having a channel open at both ends to the bath water,a first passage terminating at a first aperture opening into saidchannel and a second passage terminating at a second aperture openinginto said channel, first hose means for connecting said member to asource of water at a pressure above the water in said bath so that waterflows through said first passage and into said channel at an angle viasaid first aperture to impart momentum and cause bath water to flowthrough said channel from oneend to theother,"and r second hose meansfor communication said member 1 with the air so that as water flowsthrough said channel air is drawn through said second passage and intosaid channel via said second aperture to mix with water and create anaerated stream exiting from said other end' of said channel.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a housing within which saidmember is mounted and meansfor attaching said housing to a bath surface.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes firstand second suction cups.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said housing mounts said member sothat said stream leaves said member at an upward inclination when saidhousing is attached to said bath surface.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said member and housing are bothplastic.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 further including a mass of metal within saidhousing for providing a stabilizing weight.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first aperture is ellipticallyshaped and flush with the boundary of said channel. v

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said first passage extends so thatsaid water enters said channel from said first passage at an angle ofroughly 22 B" with respect to the axis of said channel.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said channel has a roughly circularcross section.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first hose means includes alength of flexible hose and said second hose means also includes alength of flexible hose and including means for clipping said flexiblehoses together. I

11. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including valve means for connectingsaid first hose means to a shower pipe.

12. A bath massager for use submerged in a tub comprising:

an aerating member defining a channel open to the bath water at bothends, a water flow passage opening into said channel and conductingwater flow into said channel at an angle so as to impart momentum andcause bath water flow from one end I of the channel toward the other, anair flow passage opening into said channel for communicating with theair and conducting air flow through said air flow passage as air isdrawn into said channel by the flowing water in said channel,

a housing for holding said aerating member, and

means for removably attaching said housing to a bath surface fordirecting a stream of aerated water onto any desired body part.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said attaching means includes firstand second suction cups.

14. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said housing mounts said member sothat said stream leaves said member at an upward inclination when saidhousing is attached to said bath surface.

15. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said member and housing are bothplastic.

16. Apparatus as in claim 15 further including a mass of metal withinsaid housing for providing a stabilizing weight.

17. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said first aperture is ellipticallyshaped and flush with the boundary of said channel.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said first passage extends so thatsaid water enters said channel from said first passage at an angle ofroughly 22 k with respect to the axis of said channel.

19. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said channel has a roughly circularcross section.

20. A structure for providing a stream of aerated liquid having achannel opening at one end at an exit for the aerated stream and at theother end on an entrance for unaerated liquid, a further opening forreceiving liquid at a pressure exceeding the pressure of said I liquidat the entrance to said channel,

a passage in communication with said further opening for conductingliquid received at said further opening and an aperture connecting saidpassage to said channel for permitting liquid conducted in said passageto flow into said channel at an angle to transfer momentum to the liquidin said channel, and

a further opening for receiving gas, a further passage in communicationwith said gas receiving opening' for conducting gas received and afurther aperture connecting said further passage to said channel and 22.Apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said first passage extends so that saidwater enters said channel from said first passage at an angle of roughly22 72 with respect to the axis of said channel.

23. Apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said channel has a roughly circularcross section.

1. Apparatus for use in a bath to provide a stream of aerated watercomprising: aerating means adapted for placement in the bath below thewater level including a member having a channel open at both ends to thebath water, a first passage terminating at a first aperture opening intosaid channel and a second passage terminating at a second apertureopening into said channel, first hose means for connecting said memberto a source of water at a pressure above the water in said bath so thatwater flows through said first passage and into said channel at an anglevia said first aperture to impart momentum and cause bath water to flowthrough said channel from one end to the other, and second hose meansfor communication said member with the air so that as water flowsthrough said channel air is drawn through said second passage and intosaid channel via said second aperture to mix with water and create anaerated stream exiting from said other end of said channel.
 2. Apparatusas in claim 1 further including a housing within which said member ismounted and means for attaching said housing to a bath surface. 3.Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes first andsecond suction cups.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said housingmounts said member so that said stream leaves said member at an upwardinclination when said housing is attached to said bath surface. 5.Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said member and housing are bothplastic.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 further including a mass of metalwithin said housing for providing a stabilizing weight.
 7. Apparatus asin claim 1 wherein said first aperture is elliptically shaped and flushwith the boundary of said channel.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 7 whereinsaid first passage extends so that said water enters said channel fromsaid first passage at an angle of roughly 22 1/2 * with respect to theaxis of said channel.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said channelhas a roughly circular cross section.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 1wherein said first hose means includes a length of flexible hose andsaid second hose means also includes a length of flexible hose andincluding means for clipping said flexible hoses together.
 11. Apparatusas in claim 1 further including valve means for connecting said firsthose means to a shower pipe.
 12. A bath massager for use submerged in atub comprising: an aerating member defining a channel open to the bathwater at both ends, a water flow passage opening into said channel andconducting water flow into said channel at an angle so as to impartmomentum and cause bath water flow from one end of the channel towardthe other, an air flow passage opening into said channel forcommunicating with the air and conducting air flow through said air flowpassage as air is drawn into said channel by the flowing water in saidchannel, a housing for holding said aerating member, and means forremovably attaching said housing to a bath surface for directing astream of aerated water onto any desired body part.
 13. Apparatus as inclaim 12 wherein said attaching means includes first and second suctioncups.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said housing mounts saidmember so that said stream leaves said member at an upward inclinationwhen said housing is attached to said bath surface.
 15. Apparatus as inclaim 12 wherein said member and housing are both plastic.
 16. Apparatusas in claim 15 further including a mass of metal within said housing forproviding a stabilizing weight.
 17. Apparatus as in claim 12 whereinsaid first aperture is elliptically shaped and flush with the boundaryof said channel.
 18. Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said first passageextends so that said water enters said channel from said first passageat an angle of roughlY 22 1/2 * with respect to the axis of saidchannel.
 19. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said channel has a roughlycircular cross section.
 20. A structure for providing a stream ofaerated liquid having a channel opening at one end at an exit for theaerated stream and at the other end on an entrance for unaerated liquid,a further opening for receiving liquid at a pressure exceeding thepressure of said liquid at the entrance to said channel, a passage incommunication with said further opening for conducting liquid receivedat said further opening and an aperture connecting said passage to saidchannel for permitting liquid conducted in said passage to flow intosaid channel at an angle to transfer momentum to the liquid in saidchannel, and a further opening for receiving gas, a further passage incommunication with said gas receiving opening for conducting gasreceived and a further aperture connecting said further passage to saidchannel and located between said aperture connecting said liquidconducting passage to said channel and said exit of said channel so thatthe flow of liquid past said further aperture draws gas into saidchannel and aerates the passing liquid.
 21. Apparatus as in claim 20wherein said first aperture is elliptically shaped and flush with theboundary of said channel.
 22. Apparatus as in claim 21 wherein saidfirst passage extends so that said water enters said channel from saidfirst passage at an angle of roughly 22 1/2 * with respect to the axisof said channel.
 23. Apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said channel has aroughly circular cross section.